OTTUMWA, Iowa – In a battle of Top 20 teams, the No. 14 Western Nebraska Community College men's basketball team dropped a 94-86 contest to No. 18 Indian Hills Community College in the Hyvee Classic in Ottumwa, Iowa, on Friday.

                The loss snapped a 9-game winning streak for the Cougars. Included in the win streak was an 89-81 win over Indian Hills at Cougar Palace over Thanksgiving.

                Friday's contest was similar to the first meeting by the two squads with neither team running away from the contest. There were 13 lead changes in the contest and four ties.

                WNCC's largest lead was eight points with 1:15 left to play in the first half. The Cougars held a 53-48 lead at halftime.

                The second half saw the Warriors outscore WNCC 48-33. The big difference was shooting, especially in the second half.

                WNCC shot 55 percent from the field for the game and connected on 58 percent in the first half, including burying 8 of 19 3-pointers. The second half saw the Cougars long-range shooting fall a bit, making just 2 of 10 treys.

                Indian Hills, on the other hand, shot just 52 percent from the field and were 10 of 21 from beyond the arc.

                WNCC had four players in double figures. Elie Cadet led all scorers with 21 points followed by Henry Tanksley with 18. Martin Roub followed with 16 points and Jervay Green had just 13.

                Bryce Sanchious and Dru Kuxhausen combined for just 13 points on the night. Kuxhausen buried just two 3-pointers while Sanchious had seven points.

                Indian Hills had four in double figures. Tomas Woldetensae had 22 points while Tyler Chisom had 20.

                WNCC, 12-3, will look to get back on the winning track Saturday when they face NJCAA Division II, No. 16 ranked Iowa Lakes Community College in the second day of the Hyvee Classic to wrap up the first semester action. Iowa Lakes fell 67-61 to Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa on Friday in the Hyvee Classic.

WNCC (12-3)                      53 33 – 86

Indian Hills (10-3)             48 46 – 94

WNCC
Dru Kuxhausen 6, Bryce Sanchious 7, Henry Tanksley 18, Jervay Green 13, Martin Roub 16, LeBeck Warren 5, Elie Cadet 21.

INDIAN HILLS

Iziah James 15, Tomas Woldetensae 22, JS Maila 3, Tyler Chisom 20, Torrey Patton 15, Devontae Loane 7, Nick Wagner 2, Tyon Grant-Foster 6, Anthony Bratton 4.